Switch-controlling system



F. A. SIEARN. SWITCH CONTROLLING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I6,1919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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SWITCH CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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SWHCH CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- l6, 1919.

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FRANKLIN A. STEARN, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC-TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,' A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

SWITCH-CONTROLLING SYSTEM. I

Specification of Letterslatent. Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed December 16, 1919. serm'm. 345,194.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. STEARN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic, State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-ControllingSystems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to. telephone systems and more particularly tosystems in which machine switching apparatus is employed forestablishing connections.

In certain types of machineswitching telephone systems it is customaryto provide controlling mechanisms common to a plurality of connectingcircuits for controlling the selective movement of the automaticswitches in the establishment of connections. These mechanisms comprisea plurality of registers which operate, in response to the transmissionof impulses from a calling transmitter or to the actuation of keys on anoperators keyboard, to take up positions corresponding to thedesignations of called lines. \Vith the registers in their setpositions, a series of counting relays, arranged for association withsaid registers, are successively operated in variable combinations todetermine the amount of movement to be imparted to the selectiveswitcheswhich are undergoing control. The several registers, corresponding tothe units, tens, hundreds, etc., places of the called numbers, aregenerally provided with ten controlling positions or settings, one foreach of the ten numeral digits. quently, the counting relays cooperatingwith these registers are arranged to be energized in any one of tendifferent combinations according to the settings of the registers.

It is the object of this inventionto provide, in a system of theforegoing character, a counting relay set by means of which each of thecontrolling registers require only a comparatively few settings toaccomplish the usual control of the selective switches.

A feature of the invention relates to a set of counting relays dividedinto two groups, the first group being used for selections in whichcertain digits are concerned, both groups being used for selections inwhich other digits are concerned and so organized that a particularrelay in each of said groups, which is always the last relay to beoperated insuch group, serves Conseto bring about the termination of theselec-' tive operation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparentfrom a consideration of the following description. 1

In the drawing, Figures 1, 2, and 3, when arranged wlth Figure 2,-bel'owFigure 1 and Figure 3 to the right of Figure 2, illustrate so much of atelephone system as is necessary p i for an understanding of theinvention. Fig.

I 1 shows a trunk or connecting circuit incoming to an operatorsposition and terminating 1n a group selective switch. Fig.2 shows therelay set of a controlling mechanism for controlling the operation ofthe selective switches such as the one shown in .Fig. 1.

This figure also illustrates diagrammatically a trunk-finder switch foramociating the register controlling mechanism with the in- .comlngtrunk. Fig. 3 shows two sets of keys on the operators. keyboard and thecorres ponding registers which are positioned in' accordance with theactuation of these keys.

The selective switch disclosed herein is of the well-known power-drivenpanel type, such as shown in the patent to Craft and Reynolds,1,123,696, issued J anuary 5, 1915. The construction and operation ofthe sequence switches used for controlling the circuits in this systemare shown and described in the patent to Reynolds and Baldwin 1,127,808,issued February 9, 1915. The trunk-finder shown in Fig. 2, may be of anyapproved type such as the one shown in the patent to Lundell, 1,168,319,issued January 18, 1916. The registers used in this system.

and the method in which they are variably termine the selective.movement of the-' switches in accordance with the positioning of theregisters, is divided into two groups.

By this expedient it is only necessary to provide the registers withfive differentcontrolling positions, each. The several registers,corresponding to the units, tens, hundreds, and so forth, places in thecalled line I i .105 of their five positions by means of two difjnumbers, may be arranged tobe set, inveac'h ferent keys in thecorresponding row. That is to, say, either the numbe key number 5 key,when depressed causes the register to be set in its zero position;either the number 1, or the number 6 key, when depressed causes theregister to be set in its first position; either the number 2 or thenumber 7 key, when depressed causes the register to move to its secondposition, and so on. It will be noted that the registers are adjusted toeach of their several positions by means of one key which represents adigit less than 5, and by a second key which represents a digit greaterthan 5. If the digit concerned in a given selective operation is lessthan 5, a number of counting relays of the first group corresponding tosuch digit are successively energized. When the last relay of this groupis energized, this particular relay always being the one last energizedin the group, the movement of the switch undergoing control isterminated. If, however, the digit is greater than 5, a translatingrelay operates after the register has taken its position.- In this casea variable number of relays of the first group, also dependent upon thedigit, are operated the same as for digits less than 5. When the lastrelay of the first group is energized, no eifect is produced upon themovement of the selective switch. Instead, the countin relays of thesecond group are all energize in succession. Upon the energization ofthe last relay of the second group, this relay always beingthe last oneenergized when the group is taken for use, the operation of theselective switch is terminated.

A detailed description of the operation will now be given, assuming thatthe operator at the position shown, has been notified .over an orderwire by a distant operator,

that a call is awaiting the assignment of an idle trunk. Neither thedistant operators position nor the order wire are shown, since they arenot essential to the present invention. The operator at the positionshown instructs the distant operator that the trunk 101, 102 is idle andassigns such trunk by the depression of an assignment key 103. Theoperation of this key closes a circuit including contact 104 (1) fordriving sequence switch 110 out of position 1 and into position 2. Inposition 2 of sequence switch 110 the trunk-finder whose brushes areshown at 200, 201, is started in operation to select the assigned trunk.Upon the brushes 200 and 201, making engagement with terminals 202 and203, individual to theassigned trunk, the sequence switch 110 advancesfrom position 2 into position 5. The circuits for initiating the huntingoperation of the trunk-finder, and for the advance of the sequenceswitch 110 after the assigned trunk has been seized, are not shown indetail. For a complete disclosure and explanation of the manner in whichthis operation is accomplished, reference is patent to Lundistantoperator, proceeds to set up such number on her keyboard. For simplicityonly two rows of keys and their correspondmg registers are shown in thisdisclosure, though any number of rows of keys may be provided to suitthe capacity of the system. It will be taken for example that the firsttwo digits of the called number are 1 and 4. Accordingly the operatordepresses key 302 in the first row and key 303 in the second row. Shethen operates the start key 300 which completes parallel circuits forregisters 310 and 320, these circuits includ ing respectively the righthand armatures and contacts of relays 314 and 324. The register 310rotates until it reaches position 1, at which time a circuit is closedfrom battery'through thewinding of relay 3314, contact 311 (1), contactof the depressed key 302 to ground. Relay 314 becomes energized andopens the circuit of the register 310 causing this register to stop inposition 1. The register 320 rotates until it reaches position 4, atwhich time a circuit is completed from battery through the winding ofrelay 324, contact 323 (4), contact of the depressed key 303 to ground.The relay 324 energizes and opens the circuit of register 320, whereuponthis register comes to rest in position 4. With both relays 314 and 324energized, a circuit is established from battery through the winding ofsender sequence switch 210, contact 211 (1), conductor 217, left-handarmatures and contacts of relays 314 and 324 to ground. The sequenceswitch 210 advances from position 1 into position 4.

In position 4 of the sender sequence switch 210 the fundamental circuitis closed for controlling the brush selective operation. This circuitmay be traced from battery through the right-hand winding of relay 107,contact 117 (5), contact 116 (5), conductor 124, terminal 203, brush201, winding of the stepping relay 204, armature and contact of relay206, contact 205 (4,), brush 200, terminal 202, conductor 125, contact109 (5 to 6) to ground. The relay 107 energizes and completes a circuitfrom ground through the contact 114 (2 to 17), left-hand armature andfront contact of relay 107, contact 106 (5), Winding of sequence switch110 to battery and ground. Sequence switch 110 moves from position 5into position 6. Relay 107 v of relay 107 and contact 114.

- tact of relay 107, contact 117 contact 118, (55} to 6), commutator126, brush 127 to ground. This direct path to ground serves toshunt thestepping relay 204 in the fundamental circuit. The stepping relay 204,which ener 'zed in series with relay 107, when the ndamental circuit wasclosed,

' completes a circuit from ground through its armature and contact,contact 213 (4), conductor 218, contact 315 of the register 310 closedin its first position, conductor 220, armature-and back contact of thenumber 1 counting relay 221' of the first group of counting relays,winding of the number 1 relay 222, contact 215 (4) to battery. and

ground. Relay 222energizes and prepares a locking circuit'for itself inseries with re lay 221. ,Relay 221, however, does not energize atthistime since it is shunted at the armature and contact of thesteppingrelay 204. When thebrush 127 engages the first conducting segmentofcommutator 126, re-' lay 204 deenergizes and permits relays 222 and221 to lock up in series with each other.

This locking circuit may be traced from hat relays 222 and 221', contactand armature of relay 222 to ground. When relay 204 again energizes, thecircuit traced through register .contact 315, and conductor 220 nowleads 7 over the armature and front contact of relay 221, conductor 223,back contact and lefthand armature of relay 214, winding of relay 207 tobattery and ground. The relay 207 becomes energized in this circuit andprepares at its armature and contact a circuit for itself includingparallel branches through the windings of relays 206 and 207, andcontact 209 (4). Relays 206vand 208, do not energize, 7 however, sincethey are shunted by the direct path to ground at the armature andcontact ofrelay 204. As soon as relay 204. deenergizes, this shunt isremoved and relays 206 and208 lock up in series with relay 207. Relay208 closes a circuit from ground through its contact and armature, andcontact- 211 (4) for driving sequence switch 210 into position 6. Inpassing from position 4 to position 6, contacts 215 and 209 are openedto permit the release of all counting relays that have been energized.The'relay 206 opens the fundamental circuit at the sender whereby therelay 107 is permitted to deenergize as soon as the brush 7 127 reachesthe next insulating segment'of the commutator'126. Relay 107 closes ac'ircuit from ground through contact 114 (2 to 17 left-hand armature andback contact of relay 107, contact106- (6), winding of sepositions 7 and6 respectively, thefunda mental circuit is closed for control-ling thegroup selecting movement of the switch.- Relay 107 by energizing closesa circuit from ground through the contact 114 (2 to 17), left-handarmature and front contact of relay 107, contact 106 (7), windingofsequence switch 110 to battery and ground for moving this sequenceswitch into position'8. Relay 107 as before remains energized in thefundamental circuit by a substitute pathclosed at its innerright-hand'armature and contact, and sequence switch contact 117. U-drive magnet 120 is energized in a circuit closed through contact 122(8), front contact and left-hand armature of rela 107,

and contact 114. The switch-shaft is r-iven upward in its groupselecting movement;

For each conducting segment of the grou select ng commutator 129 thatthe brush 128 enga es, the following substitute circuit is comp eted forthe energization of relay 107 battery. through the right-hand winding oftery through contact 215 (4), windings of ground shunts out the steppingrelay 204 in the fundamental circuit. Upon the energization of thestepping relay 204 inthe fundamental circuit, a circuit is closed fromground through the armature and contact I of relay 204, contact 213 (6),conductor 219,

contact 326 of register 320 closed in position 4, conductor 224,armature and back -contact of the number 4 counting relay 225 of thefirst roup, winding of the number 4 countm tery and ground. Relay 226energizes and as soon thereafter as the stepping relay 204 is shuntedrelay 225 energizes and locks up in series with relay'226; In thismanner each of the three succeeding -pairs of relays of the first groupare energized in response to the operation of the stepping relay 204.After the relay 221' becomes energized the 1 next energization of relay204 closes the above described circuit for' relay207. The nextdeenergization of the ste ping relay 204 permits the ener ization ofrelays 206 and 208. Relay 208 c oses the above traced circuit for thesequence switch 210 which thereupon advances from position 6 to position1 and relay 206 opens the fundamental circuit. As soon after thefundamental circuit is opened at the sender, as the brush 128 encountersan insulating portion of the re ay 226, contact 215 (6) to batgroupselecting commutator 129, relay 107 deenergizes. Relay 107 closes acircuit from ground through the contact 114 (2 to 17),

left-hand armature and back-contact of relay 107, contact 106 (8)winding of sequence switch 110 to battery to ground. Sequence switch 110moves out of position 8 and into position 9. I

In position 9 of sequence switch 110 a circuit is closed from batterythrough the right-hand winding of relay 107, contact 117 (9 to 94),contact 115 (9 to 91) to ground. Relay 107 closes a circuit from groundthrough contact 114 (2 to 17), left-hand armature and front contact ofrelay 107, contact 106 (9), winding of sequence switch 110 to batteryand ground for driving said sequence switch into position 10. If thefirst trunk in the group, upon the terminals of which the brushes areresting, is busy, relay 107 is maintained energized in position 10 ofsequence switch 110 in the following circuit: battery through theleft-hand winding of relay 107, contact 108 (9 to 10), contact and outerright-hand armature of relay 107, upper left-hand contact 123 (2 to 11),lower contact 123 (9 to 162;), brush l30 to ground at the busy terminal131. Up-clrlve magnet 120 is, therefore, energized in a circuit frombattery through the winding of said magnet, contact 122 (10), frontcontact and left-hand armature of relay 107, con tact 114 to ground. Thebrush shaft moves upward until an idle trunk is reached at which timerelay 107 deenergizes and opens the circuit of the power magnet 120causing the brushes to come to rest. Relay 107 by deenergizing closes acircuit from ground through contact 114, left-hand armature and backcontact of relay 107, contact 106 (10), winding of sequence switch 110to battery and ground. Sequence switch 110 advances into position 13which is the talking position of the switch. The selected trunk 15 madebusy by the application of ground-on terminal 131 over a circuitincluding brush 130, lower contact 123 (9 to 16%) and upper right-handcontact 123 (11 to 18).

In passing from position 6 to position 1 the sender sequence switchcloses a circuit from ground through contact 227 (7 to 8), windings ofkey release magnets 317 and 328 in parallel to battery and ground. Thesemagnets, which serve to maintain the operated keys in the depressedposition, cause the release of said keys when energized.

It has thus been shown how the first group of the counting relay setcontrols the selective operation of the switches when the digitsinvolved in such selection are less than the digit 5. An example willnow be taken in which one of the selective operationsof the switchesinvolves a digit greater than the digit 5. For this purpose it will beassumed that it is desired to operate the switch shown in Fig. 1 inaccordance with the designation 18. Accordingly the operator depressesnumber 1 key 302 ,in the first row and number 8 key 304 in the secondrov"v. Key 302 causes the register 310 to be set in position 1 as abovedescribed. Key 304, which, it will be observed, is connected to registercontact 322 in position 3, causes the register 320 to be set in position3. In the manner already explained the setting of register 310 inposition 1 determines that the counting relays of the first group onlyare successively energized to control the movement of the switch toselect the proper set of brushes. The sender sequence switch 210 thenadvances to position 6, and the fundamental circuit is closed to controlthe selection of a group of trunks corresponding to the depressed key inthe second row of keys. Since the key 304 represents a digit greaterthan 5, the follow- 1ng circuit is completed in position 6 of thesender. sequence switch 210: battery through the winding of translatingrelay 214, contact 212 (6), conductor 228, right-hand contact of key 304to ground. The translating relay 214, which operates in response to theactuation of any key representing a digit greater than 5, determinesthat after the proper number of relays of the first group have beenenergized, all the counting relays of the second group must be energizedin succession before the fundamental circuit is severed to terminate theroup selecting movement of the switch. ith relay 204 energized in thefundamental circuit a circuitus completed from round through thearmature and contact of said relay, contact 213,-(6), conductor 219,contact 326 (3), conductor 229, armature and back contact of relay 230,winding of relay 231, contact and 230 energize and lock up in series, asdescribed, and in succession thereafter the remaining pairs of relays ofthe first group are energized and locked up.. Upon the energization ofrelay 221, the stepping circuit, controlled by the stepping relay 204,instead of leading to the winding of relay 207, now leads by way ofconductor 223, right-hand armatureand contact of the translating relay214, armature and back contact of the number 9 counting'relay 232 of thesecond group, winding of relay 233, contact 215 (6) to battery andground. In this manner the succeeding relays of the second oup ofcounting relays are energized and ocked up. Upon the energization of thefin'al relay 234 of the second group, the stepping circuit is completedby way of conductor 235, front contact and left-hand ar- 215 (6') tobattery and ground. Relays 231 i mature. of the translating relay 214,winding of relay 207 to battery and ground. The next deenergization ofthe stepping relay 204 permits'the energizatiomot relays 206 includingcontact 111 (13). Relay 105 closes a circuit including upper left-handcontact 104 (13 to- 17 for driving sequence switch 110 into position 18.In this position the down-drivepower magnet-121 is energized by, meansof a circuit closed at contact 119. When the brush shaft reaches itshome position, a circuit is closed from ground through brush128,contact'132, conductor 133, contact 104: (18), winding of sequenceswitch 110 to battery and ground.

Sequence switch 110 advances into its nor-' mal position and the circuitof magnet 121 is opened at contact 119. The apparatus is now restored toits normal condition.

What is claimed is: 1. In a controlling system, a selective switch,switch controlling mechanism comprising a plurality of relays arrangedin two grou s, means for operating in succession a varia le number ofthe relays of the first group, means for operating in succession.

the relays ofthe second group, said groups being arranged such that aparticular relay in each roup is always the last relay operated in tatgroup, and means responsive to the operation of said particular relaysfor determining the operation of said switch.

2. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism comprising a series of relays divided in-two groups, means foroperating in succession a variable number of the relays of the firstgroup means for operating in succession all the relays of the secondgroup, said groups being arranged so that a particularrelay in eachgroup is always the last relay OPeratt u ro e ed in that group, andmeans responsive to the operation of said particular relays fordetermining theoperation of said switch.

3. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism com prising a series of relays divided in two groups, meansfor moving said switch, meanscontrolled by the movement of said switchfor operating in succession a variable number of the relays of the first-'groi'rp';f means controlled by the movement-of said'f-fswitch foroperating in succession the relaysof the second group, said groups beingarranged such that a particular relay in each group is always the lastrelay operated in that group, and means responsive to the operation ofsaid particular relays for terminating the movement of said switch.

4. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism comprising a series of relays divided in two groups, therelays of thefirst group arranged to be successively o erated invariable numbers thereof, the re ays of the second group arranged to besuccessively operated,,said groups being arranged so that a particularrelay in each group is always the last relay operated in that group,means for operating either the relays of said first group, or the relaysof said first group and the relays of said second group, and meansresponsive to' the operation of said particular relays for determiningthe operation of said switch.

5. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism comprising a series of relays divided in two groups, therelays of the first group arranged to be successively operated invariable numbers thereof, the relays of the second grou arranged to besuccessively operated, sai groups being so arranged that a particularrelay in 'each group is always the last relay operated in that group,means for moving said switch, means controlled inthe movement of theswitch for operating either the relays of said first group or the relaysof said first group and the relays of said second group dependent uponthe extent of movement to be imparted to said switch, and meansresponsive to the operation of said particular relay in the first groupwhen only the relays of said first groups are operated, for stoppingsaid switch, saidlast means bemg also responsive to said particularrelay of the second group'when, both the relays of the first and secondgroups are operated for stopping said switch.

6. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism'com-- prising a series of relays arranged in' two groups, therelays of each group arranged to be operated in succession, said groupsbeing so arranged that a particular relay in each group is always thelast relay operated in.110 that roup, a" plurality of keys, means con-'d by the actuation of said keys for operating a variable- 'number of therelays of the first group andfor operating the relays'of the secondgroup, and means responsive-to the operation of said particular relaysfor determining the operation of'said switch.

'7. In a controlling system, a selective] switch, a switch controllingmechanism comprising a series of relays arranged in two groups, therelays of each group arranged to be operated in succession, said groupsbeing of the first group and for operating the re- 8; Inacontrollingsystem, a selective switch, a switch controlling mechanismcomprising a series of relays divided in two groups, the relays of eachgroup arranged to be operated in succession, said groupsbeing arrangedsuch that a particular relay in each group is always the relay lastoperated in that group, a series of number keys, means controlled by theactuation of keys representing certain numerals for operatingcorresponding numbers of the relays of the first roup, means controlledby the actuation of eys representing other numerals for operating therela s of the second group, means for moving sai switch, and meansresponsive to the operation of said particular relays for stopping saidswitch.

9. In a controlling system, a selective switch, a switch controllingmechanism comprising a series of relays divided in two groups, therelays of each group arranged to be operated in succession, said groupsbeing arranged so that a particular relay in each group is always therelay last operated in that group, a serles of number keys, meanscontrolled by the actuation of keys representing certain numerals foroperating corresponding numbers of the relays of the first group, meanscontrolled by the actuation of 10. In a controlling system, a selective,

switch, a switch controlling mechanism comprismg a series of relaysdivided in two groups, the relays of each group arranged to be operatedin succession, said groups being arranged such that a particular relayin each group is always the relay last operated in that group, a seriesof keys representing the consecutive numerals from O to 9, meanscontrolled by the actuation of keys representing numerals less than five*for operating corresponding numbers of the relays of the first group,means controlled by'the actuation of the remaining of said keys for operating corresponding numbers of the relays of the first group and foroperating all the relays of the second group, means for moving saidswitch, and means responsive to the operation of one or the other ofsaid particular relays, depending on the key-actuated. for stopping saidswitch.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe a my name this 12th day ofDecember A. D.. 1919. l

FRANKLIN S TEARN.

